Amazon Plans First Nuclear Power Plant to Boost Energy Capacity

Amazon has announced plans for its first nuclear power facility, the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, located in Richland, Washington. This ambitious project aims to generate up to 960 megawatts of electricity using twelve small modular reactors (SMRs), marking a significant move toward a carbon-free energy supply for the company’s growing data centers and artificial intelligence applications.

The facility will be developed in collaboration with regional energy supplier Energy Northwest and SMR developer X-energy. Situated near the existing Columbia Generating Station, the Cascade facility is designed to meet the increasing energy demands of Amazon’s operations while promoting sustainable energy solutions.

Innovative Design and Expansion Potential

The design of the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility deviates from traditional nuclear power plants, which often require extensive land. The compact modular design allows the twelve SMR units to fit within a small area, significantly reducing the spatial footprint. Each of the reactor units will produce 320 megawatts, with initial plans to construct four units, allowing for future expansion to the full twelve units based on energy needs.

This innovative approach not only optimizes land use but also provides flexibility in scaling power generation as demand increases. The ability to expand gradually is a key feature of the SMR technology, which is still in its developmental phase.

Investment and Job Creation

To support this initiative, Amazon is leading a funding round of approximately $500 million for X-energy. This Series C-1 investment aims to accelerate the development and deployment of SMR technology across the United States, with a goal of realizing over five gigawatts of new nuclear energy projects by 2039.

Construction of the Cascade facility is expected to commence at the end of this decade, with commissioning projected for the 2030s. The project is anticipated to create over 1,000 jobs during the construction phase, alongside more than 100 permanent positions once operational.

Ben Reinke, Senior Vice President of X-energy, acknowledged the challenges involved in adopting and commercializing new technology, stating, “It’s a difficult thing – adopting new technology like this and bringing it to market.”

As Amazon ventures into nuclear energy, it joins a growing list of technology companies, including Google and Microsoft, that are investing in nuclear power to meet rising energy demands for data centers. This trend highlights the critical role nuclear energy can play in achieving a sustainable and reliable energy future.